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Staff Profiles

Dr Myra Giesen

Research Associate

  • Email: myra.giesen@ncl.ac.uk
  • Address: School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences
    1.41 King George VI Building
    Queen Victoria Road
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Research Group/Projects

Qualifications

Publication and Research Summary

Previous Positions

  • 2018-21 Research Associate, School of Engineering, Newcastle University (NU)
  • 2017-18 Research Impact Development Officer, School of Engineering, NU
  • 2015-16 Development Officer, Learning and Teaching Development Service, NU
  • 2006-16 Lecturer, ICCHS and/or HCA, NU
  • 2008-13 Academic Tutor/Lecturer, University of Sunderland
  • 1995-06 Physical Anthropologist, US Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
  • 2001      Guest Lecturer, NU
  • 1995      Instructor, Baker University
  • 1994-13 Adjunct Faculty, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas
  • 1994-95 Archaeologist, Reclamation
  • 1993-94 Research Technician II, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • 1993      Certified K-12 Substitute Teacher, Tucson Unified School District
  • 1990-92 Graduate Research Assistant, Ohio State University (OSU)
  • 1992      Contractor, US Corps of Engineers
  • 1990      Research Assistant, Peabody Museum, Harvard University
  • 1990      Contractor, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
  • 1989-92 Contractor, Archaeological Data Services
  • 1989-90 Staff Osteologists, OSU Excavations at Isthmia
  • 1987-92 Teaching Associate, OSU
  • 1987-92 Contractor, Franklin County Coroner's Office in Ohio
  • 1987      Field Archaeologist, ODOT
  • 1987      Teaching Assistant, OSU
  • 1985-87 Contractor, Sedgwick County Coroner's Office in Kansas
  • 1985      Research Assistant, Wichita State University (WSU)
  • 1984-85 Teaching Assistant, WSU
Research

Currently, I am working with informal settlements in Delhi, India to identify best practice for empowerment. While back in Newcastle, I am researching Ballast Hills Burial Ground to reveal its secrets and to tell its story.

During my professional career, I have worn many different hats, which has resulted in a diverse skill set. I am an anthropologist at heart and am intrigued with all that makes us human. I have worked in industry and academia, and have experienced the perceived stereotypes associated with both. I have been a government employee, while valuing and expressing my rights as a member of the public. I am best known professionally for my work related to attitudes and ethics related to the treatment of human remains held in collections, especially related to NAGPRA compliance. During this work, I have lead stakeholder engagement or consultations, conducted skeletal analyses, weighted out evidence for cultural affiliation, worked on management plans, and contributed to the decision-making process. My interest in human remains followed me to the UK, where I edited a book on the curation of UK human remains in 2013. 

Another of my interests has to do with the long-term protection and interpretation of cultural heritage. I have archaeological field experience and am a strong advocate of making archaeology and heritage, more generally, accessible. I have adopted a more integrated science-based approach to developing methods and technologies for recording and monitoring heritage assets, such as open-air rock art. I co-created a rock art monitoring app for use in the UK and Ireland. 

Publications